Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-30
THE CENTRAL VERMONT r.. u. CASE
Decision of the Interstate Commission.
in Favor of the State Grange The
Road Must Lower its Local
Freight Rates.

The Interstate commerce commission
has decided the case brought against chat
company by the Vermont State grange
and the Boston and Albany railroad in
favor of the grange and adversely to the
Boston and Albany. The commission de
clares Illegal the action of the Central
in charging a less freight rate on similar
service, for long than short haul over
their lines between Boston and Detroit,
Milwaukee and Chicago. Itfurther holds
that the Boston and Albany has on its own
behalf no ground of complaint against the
defendants. It's grievance, il any. IS that
the defendant roads make lower charges
on long haul traffic than it makes. but
this they have a right to do. In the high
local rates the Boston and Albany has no
concern. 1t was said in the argument
that it was interested in the question, be-
cause If the Central Vermont could law
fully make the higher charge on the
shorter haul the Boston and Albany de
sired TO know it, that 1t might do the
same. But this was no reason for insti-
tuting these proceedings, tor any case
must stand on its own facts, and it would
not follow that what would be lawful to
the Central Vermont would be lawful for
the Boston and Albany, the conditions OF
whose traffic might be altogether differ
ert. The State grange, however, repre-
sentnE persons presumably interested in
the local rates, had a right to complain of
them, and on its complaint this case was
disposed of on the merits. The decision
proceeds as follows:
The main reliance of the defence was
upon the showing of the competition
which the defendants must meet in their
long haul traffic. 1t was shown that for
traffic between Boston and the West there
was actual or possible competition by
steamers to Portland and thence over the
Grand Trunk by steamers to Halifax and
thence over the IntercolOnial by the South
eastern railroad to connect with the Ca
madam Pacific by the several trunk lines,
and by combinations of carriers, requiring
ever, is entirely conclusive that the com
petition which is troublesome to defend
ants is that of the trunk lines. 1t has diff
ferentials, and it is because they are pos
sessed of the shorter lines that the diff
terentials become necessary. The defend
ants do not fear the competition of route
by Halifax, or Of any of the other circuit
routes that can be organized, and such
lines do not constitute circumstances and
conditions having any perceptible bearing
on the present controversy. The circum-
stances and conditions that must justify
the greater charge or the shorter haul
over the Central Vermont line, must be
such as spring from trunk line cOmpeti-
ton. In the matter of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad company, we express
ed the opinion that there might be cases
in which the competition between rail
roads, even when they were all subject to
the jurisdiction of the commission, would
Il tot tln,. ~ Of
stances and conditions between long and
short haul traffic as to justify the greater
charge for the shorter haul on the same
line in the same direction. But our publish
ed opinion shows we thought these cases
must he rare and exceptional. The trunk
lines are all subject to our jurisdiction.
What then are the peculiar circumstances
and conditions which constitute the diff
ference between the case before us and
cases of railroad competition in general
The principal difference must be found
in the fact that the trunk lines have in.
terror or shorter lines compared with the
line OF the defendants; and the latter are
compelled, therefore, to make very low
rates on their through traffic. This is a
necessity of the situation, but u is a ne
cessty which exists whenever long and
short lines compete. The long line must
accept the rates made by the short line
and, perhaps, make concessions from
Jueln. III TINS ISSDeCG lnere is nOlnlD9
peculiar in the position of these defend
ants. There are roads in every part OF
the country which can make the same
claim they do, and with the same
justice. II Is claim that could he
advanced whenever u route, how
ever circuitouS, could be found for long
haul traffic. \ line from Boston to De
troit, for example, might be formed by the
way of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway,
and one from Chicago to St. Louis by way
of st. Paul The greater the departure
from a direct line the greater would COM
monty be the necessity for low rates on
through traffic, and the greater the liabil-
lty to have the charges or tie local traffic
increased to make the carriage Of through
traffic possible. But without charging
on this branch OF the case, we content
ourselves with saying that such peculiar
facts are not found TO exist in this case as
will justify the greater charge on the
shorter line. There remains only the
duty to make and issue the order which
the facts found require.
The Central Vermont and the other de
PENDANTS concerned with il in inter State
traffic between Boston and st. Adams
and Boston and OgdensburG, respective
ly, including those points, must wholly
cease and desist from charging or receiv-
ing in respect to any part Of such traffic Il
greater compensation for transportation
OF Il like kind of property For a shorter
than for a longer distance over the same
line in the same direction, the shorter be-
ing included within the longer distance.
In performing this duty we neither do,
nor with proprety can, express any opin-
| ION upon the intrinsic reasOnablepesS or
justice of the rates heretofore imposed,
except to this extent: That we do not
| think it was shown by the evidence that
when the local tariffs are made to con
| form to the letter of the law as above di-
rected they will he unreasonable. The
commission adjourned 10 meet in Wash
| inStOn.
Vermont Branch OF Women's CourG Oi
Missions